The combined tax holiday runs through Sunday. Items exempt from the tax include certain school supplies, portable generators and Energy Star and WaterSense products.

Lori Janke, who owns two Newport News clothing stores, told The Daily Press that she doesn't want the government restricting or limiting the sales tax holiday.

Bill Mitchell says his hardware store in Hampton could get a boost from the combined tax holiday. He says the previous hurricane preparedness tax holiday was in May, when people aren't thinking about hurricanes.